About Inagua

With Great Inaguas resident population of around 1,000 Bahamians and over 80,000 West Indian flamingos, and Little Inagua's only settlers amounting to donkeys, goats and rare birds, this pair of islands is (together the third-largest island in The Bahamas and referred to as Inagua) an eco-tourists dream.

Set foot in the pristine environment of Inagua's National Park (which, covering 743-square km and dominated by Lake Windsor takes up almost half the island), and it scarcely seems possible that just 30 years ago the most abundant resident was saved from near extinction by The Bahamas National Trust and the help of The National Audubon Society. Today, as a visitor to one of the largest breeding grounds of the West Indian flamingo in the western hemisphere, you can witness the spectacle of nesting flamingos during March and April, see adults standing guard over their fluffy white chicks or watch them feeding on tasty shrimp.

The island is also home to many water birds, such as the unusual roseate spoonbill, pelicans, herons, egrets, black-necked stilts and Bahamas pintail ducks. One of the most exotic birds in Inagua is the endangered Bahama parrot: a vibrant green color with a pure white head, it feeds among the Inagua oak trees. Visitors to the National Park may be lucky enough to see The Bahama woodstar, a dazzling native hummingbird that is found nowhere else in the world.

Other wondrous sights you can look forward to include burrowing owls, American kestrels in courtship displays, and ospreys. In the autumn and winter many North American birds escape from the cold to enjoy the sunshine in Inagua. The most famous migrants are the endangered Kirtland's warblers, which travel here from their nesting grounds in Michigan.

In addition to the various exotic birds, visitors can see feral donkeys and endangered freshwater turtles. And, accompanied by experienced guides, travellers can explore Inagua's limestone caves and enjoy fabulous beaches and snorkelling.

Inagua, which is mostly flat and scrub, is the third-largest island in The Bahamas. The national park covers 743 square km, making up almost half the island, and is dominated by Lake Windsor. About 1,000 people live on Inagua, whose capital, Matthew Town, is on the south western coast.

Access restrictionYou are attempting to view an access restricted part of this site. Please login or register to get access to this content.